1979 Buffalo Bills Outlook

1979 Buffalo Bills Team Directory

President: Ralph Wilson

Vice-President, Football Operations-Head Coach: Chuck Knox

Vice-President-General Manager: Stew Barber

Vice-President: Patrick McGroder

Vice-President, Public Relations: L. Budd Thalman

Home Field: Rich Stadium (80,020)

-The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

OFFENSE
"The Bills' running game isn't bad with Terry Miller, Curtis Brown and Roland Hooks, who had long runs of 60, 58 and 66 yards respectively. But Brown weighs 203 pounds, which may weigh him down over 16 games if he continues to return kicks, pound through the middle of the line and also block for Miller. Brown certainly stood out last year, helping Miller rush for 1,060 yards and picking up 591 yards (4.6 average) himself.
Quarterback Joe Ferguson could use a burner at wide receiver to open up the Buffalo offense more. Bob Chandler is a tremendous technical receiver and ex-Steeler Frank Lewis had personal highs last year with 41 receptions and seven touchdowns. But Coach Chuck Knox doesn't consider either a deep threat. Maybe young Len Willis, the former Ohio Stater who was injured last year, could be that man. Reuben Gant has come on at tight end and is headed for his best year.
The line still has Joe DeLamielleure and Reggie McKenzie at guards. Willie Parker is the center, with Ken Jones and Joe Devlin the tackles. Devlin is becoming one of the better tackles in the AFC. Remember, Miller didn't do it alone."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1979 Edition

DEFENSE
"All together now: what defense? Certainly not against the rush, where Buffalo was last in the AFC with a 201-yard average. The front four of Ben Williams, Mike Kadish, Dee Hardison and Sherman White didn't frighten anyone. However, Phil Dokes had Kadish beat out until an injury and Hardison was thrown in as a rookie. Scott Hutchinson, also a first-year player in '78, could start this year ahead of either Williams or White. Knox would like to see his Bills cut 50 yards off their rushing yield- to make games fair.
Buffalo's pass defense ranked No. 1 but had a league-low 317 passes attempted against it. Since the Bills were giving up an astronomical 4.8 yards per rushing carry, who needed to throw? Buffalo's linebackers include the transient Tom Graham in the middle and Shane Nelson and Lucius Sanford on the outside. The secondary isn't weak by any means despite the way it earned its No. 1 ranking. Mario Clark, five interceptions, is a strong right corner and Tony Greene a capable free safety. Charles Romes had a good first year at corner, including an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown, longest in the AFC."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1979 Edition

KICKING GAME
"Curtis Brown returned a kickoff 102 yards and Keith Moody brought a punt back 82 yards, the longest punt return in football. Tom Dempsey drilled 10 of 13 field goal attempts in his latest re-emergence. Rusty Jackson's punting average dropped with the thermometer; he finished at 38.8. B-r-r-r-r."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1979 Edition

THE ROOKIES
"The Bills got rich- or at least richer- with Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, the first player taken in the draft, and Clemson wide receiver Jerry Butler, the fifth. Boston College middle guard Fred Smerlas will also help that porous Bills defense inch towards respectability."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1979 Edition

OUTLOOK
"The Bills offense is good enough to win 10 games, but their defense is capable of losing more. Chuck Knox has lots of draft picks to build the future with. The future certainly isn't now for Buffalo, which will live in the cellar of the strong AFC East. Bring blankets, Chuck."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1979 Edition

"When the Buffalo Bills open their season against the Miami Dolphins on September 2, the mathematical odds will be in favor of coach Chuck Knox's outfit. On a hunch that a team that loses to the same opponent 18 straight times, just HAS to win sometime, the oddsmakers could almost give Buffalo some kind of an edge- something about the law of averages. Those 18 consecutive victories, two of which came last season, established a new NFL record for an all-time winning streak against the same opponent. So, how long can a string like that continue? A long time, maybe.

Except for the Dolphins, Buffalo doesn't meet up with any 1978 playoff-caliber teams [except New England on November 4] until the season's last four games. Then they tackle New England, Denver, Minnesota and Pittsburgh in that order, with the Broncos supplying the only home game. By that time, the Bills should know what the immediate future has in store for them if, by chance, they can survive that formidable four-game gauntlet.
As the Buffalo fans prepare for another season without O.J. Simpson, some interesting statistics have surfaced- figures that may indicate the shape of better things to come. The final total of five Buffalo victories in 1978, for instance, equaled the total number of victories for both 1976 and 1977. If that fails to start the adrenalin flowing, consider this: last season Buffalo lost seven of its games by margins of a touchdown or less. And for the first time since 1975, somebody else besides the Bills finished the season as cellar-dwellers in the AFC East.
The positive thinking factors don't stop there. The club's offensive production was up by 239 yards, even its overall offensive ratings in the NFL turned up slightly. The rushing yardage was especially encouraging, since it showed an increase of more than 500 yards over '77, with the NFL ranking improving from 18th place to 10th.
The biggest plus, however, would seem to be the club's defense against the pass. Here the Bills ranked at the very top of the NFL, permitting a per-game average of only 122.5 yards. Even so, those figures may be deceptive since NFL ball-carriers found Buffalo's defensive unit the easiest one to run through last season. In that department, the Bills ranked at the very bottom of the NFL- in 28th place- by allowing the opposition an average of 201.8 yards rushing per game.
But what about Buffalo's passing game and Joe Ferguson's receivers? Says coach Knox: 'Bob Chandler and Frank Lewis give us two excellent outside receivers, but our need is for a 'burner,' a speed merchant who can give us a deep threat. Lou Piccone provides a measure of depth and an added dimension with his blocking and performance on the special teams. Then, four receivers are coming off the injured reserve- John Holland, Len Willis, Willie Zachery and Dan Fulton. We had great hopes for Fulton in particular but he reported late last year, then he had foot problems that kept him out of practice all season.'
One problem that kept the Buffalo defensive unit off balance the first half of last season was the absence of defensive tackle Mike Kadish, the club's best defensive lineman. With Kadish out, and middle linebacker a weak spot, opposing ball-carriers found the going easy through the center of Buffalo's line. In fact, word got around that Buffalo probably had the weakest defensive middle in the league. Two first-rate rookies, linebacker Lucius Sanford and tackle Dee Hardison, tried to plug the gap as best they could, but it was rough going until Kadish finally settled a contract dispute with the front office and returned to action.
Terry Miller is going to be part of the Buffalo scene for years to come. In late November, he became only the fourth NFL rookie ever to rush for 200 or more yards in a game. He rolled 208 against the New York Giants with the Bills winning, 41-17. The three previous 200-yard rookies were Tom Wilson of Los Angeles, 1956; Cleveland's Jim Brown, 1957; and the incomparable Tony Dorsett of Dallas in 1977.
Will the Buffalo fans get used to the idea that O.J. is no longer around to make the big play? With Terry Miller in the lineup, they might, but still, the feeling lingers that there's only one Orange Juice. Knox recently revealed the reasons why he felt it necessary to send O.J. packing to San Francisco. It seems team morale was a factor.
'On a team that won two games one year and three the next,' said Knox, 'how do you justify giving $733,000 to one guy while the guy next to him gets $33,000?'"

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979

OFFENSE
"Quarterbacks: Ferguson set club passing records in 1977, but he couldn't match up to that performance in '78. This was reflected in Buffalo's ranking in team passing which was 12th in the AFC, with an average output of 140.5 yards per game.
Indestructible Bill Munson enters his 16th NFL season a young 38, his arm still effective when needed. He threw 43 times last season and completed 24 for a 55.8 average and four touchdowns. David Mays called a few plays but didn't impress that much.
Running Backs: Miller is the start of this company. He became the 10th rookie to gain a thousand yards when he ran for 123 against Baltimore in the season finale. His final total was 1,060. Even so, Curtis Brown turned in the best average yardage gain per carry with 4.6, slightly better than Miller's 4.5. Brown gained 591 yards on 128 attempts.
Mike Collier was on injured reserve and Steve Powell saw little action. Dennis Johnson showed some form as a rookie and may yet supply Knox with a powerful Miller-Johnson tandem.
If youth and yards are the same, this unit should travel far.
Receivers: Five members of this unit were injured reservists in '78- Fulton, Holland, Shipp, Willis and Zachery. Chandler fell short of 50 receptions for the first time since 1974 but still led Buffalo receivers with 44. A bad knee kept him out of three games. His sidekick Lewis caught 41 for his best year ever and may silence some critics who think the Bills should have a speed burner in his position. Reuben Gant caught 34 while Miller pulled in 22 running patterns from the backfield.
Interior Linemen: Buffalo ranked 13th among the 14 AFC clubs in the final total offense rankings, averaging 289.4 yards per game. This could indicate the aging of veterans such as Reggie McKenzie, Joe DeLamielleure and Willie Parker- or it might mean that young players like Ken Jones and Joe Devlin are not developing fast enough. Or both.
Devlin, Phil Olsen, Eric Smith and Connie Zelencik were injury-prone, with only Devlin seeing action.
Some observers believe the Bills need a bigger and stronger center than Parker as well as a tackle. Jones had some embarrassing moments last season in the first Jets game. He was caught holding four times, causing the recall of two long pass completions from Ferguson to Gant as the Bills lost, 20-21.
Kickers: Tom Dempsey did whatever was asked of him, making good on 36 of 39 PATs and 10 field goals out of 13 attempts. Five field goals were made from 30 or more yards out and he was perfect from up to 29 yards. The trouble was that the Bills didn't get close enough often enough to make field goals a viable scoring alternative. Or that touchdowns were needed most.
Rusty Jackson's punts averaged nearly 39 yards, with one going for 70 yards."

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979

DEFENSE
"Front Linemen: Buffalo allowed its opponents a total of 3,228 yards rushing last season. None of the other clubs were that generous. In fact, it was a bad year for Buffalo's defense on the ground, but in the air it was different. Much different. There, the Bills topped the entire NFL in defense against the pass, allowing opponents only 122.5 aerial yards per game. Even so, the Bills tied the Jets for the league's lowest number of quarterback sacks- a mere 22 which indicates a lack of pass-rushing capability in the line.
Kadish, the club's best defensive lineman, was unavailable for about eight games because of a contract dispute. Hardison starred at tackle all season and did fairly well. There's hope that Scott Hutchinson will prove a good end in time.
Linebackers: Lucius Sanford distinguished himself in his rookie year, so much so that his teammates considered any all-rookie team a joke if it didn't name him. Sanford also blocked two field goals in one game against Kansas City. Not bad for a 4th round draft choice.
Some critics think the middle linebacker spot could be in better hands than those of Tom Graham and Randy McClanahan. It isn't easy to please everybody.
Defensive Backs: This unit did much to put Buffalo's pass defense at the league's top. Although interceptions totaled only 14, opposing passers found it hard to find a suitable target in the secondary.
Mario Clark led the club's interceptors with five, while Tony Greene and linebacker Shane Nelson came up with three each. These defenders helped during a dreary defensive year for Buffalo, and they could again."

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979

"Another bountiful collegiate draft brought a ton of young talent to the Buffalo roster, all but ensuring continued progress in the club's rebuilding program. Chuck Knox has breathed new life into what had been a downtrodden franchise and expects to field an exciting, if inexperienced, football team in '79.
Knox went to the draft to improve a defense that had the worst record against the run (4.8-yard average yield/23 touchdowns) in the conference and came away with some blue-chippers who might allow him to switch to a 3-4 alignment. The top pick, All-American middle linebacker Tom Cousineau (6'3/228) of Ohio State, and second-round choice Jim Haslett (6'2"/225) of Indiana (PA) are outstanding athletes capable of stepping right into the linebacker unit which includes All-Rookie right linebacker Lucius Sanford and hustling left linebacker Shane Nelson. Randy McClanahan and Tom Graham are inside linebacker reserves while Dan Jilek, Tom Ehlers and Mario Celotto figure as outside backer subs.
A front wall that registered only 22 sacks was comprised of left end Ben Williams (6'3"/ 246), aggressive soph left tackle Dee Hardison (6'4"/270), standout right tackle Mike Kadish (6'2"/272) and right end Sherman White (6'5"/250), with soph end Scott Hutchinson (6'4"/245) and tackle Phil Dokes (6'5"/255) the key backups. Nose tackle Fred Smerlas (6'2"/260) of Boston College, a relentless and strong athlete, and Ken Johnson (6'3"/245) of Knoxville, a quick pass rusher, should provide competition for starting assignments.
A competent secondary unit has standout Mario Clark (five interceptions) and Charles Romes working the corners, with Keith Moody and Eddie McMillan as their reserves. Capable Doug Jones and brilliant Tony Greene will be joined by hard-hitting Bill Simpson, who came over in a preseason deal with the Rams. Steve Freeman and soph Marvin Switzer are holdover subs. All-American Jeff Nixon of Richmond is a super safety prospect and punt returner while Rod Kush of Omaha (Nebraska) seems suited for corner duty.
Knox prefers a conservative run-oriented offense and will again lean heavily on his gifted trio of ball carriers: explosive Terry Miller who darted for 1,060 yards (seven touchdowns) from tailback, shifty fullback Curtis Brown (591 yards) and swing reserve Roland Hooks (358). Backup fullback Dennis Johnson (222), Steve Powell and Mike Collier complete the backfield.
The run lanes are opened by All-Pro right guard Joe DeLamielleure  (6'3"/248) and longtime left guard partner Reggie McKenzie (6'5"/245) plus tackles Joe Devlin (6'5"/254), Ken Jones (6'5"/252), Elbert Drungo (6'5"/264) and center Willie Parker (6'3"/245). Well-regarded rookie tackle Jon Borchardt (6'5"/245) of Montana State and guard Mike Burrow (6'4"/260) of Auburn join key reserve guard Bill Adams, tackle Eric Smith and center Will Grant to add depth.
Mobile quarterback Joe Ferguson responded well to Knox's discipline, cutting his interceptions from 24 in 1977 to 15 in 1978 while passing for 16 touchdowns and 2,136 yards. Rookie Dan Manucci (Kansas State) will compete with veteran Bill Munson and David Mays for backup quarterback jobs.
Key receiver Bob Chandler managed 44 receptions (five touchdowns) despite constant double coverage which should be alleviated this year by the addition of super-talented wide receiver Jerry Butler of Clemson, who was rated the top college flanker by most NFL scouts. Frank Lewis (41 receptions, seven touchdowns) will be the swing reserve, with John Holland, Len Willis, Danny Fulton, Willie Zachary, Lou Piccone and Larry Walton battling it out for the remaining wide receiver jobs. Reuben Gant (34 receptions, seven touchdowns) is set at tight end where Mike Franckowiak and Joe Shipp serve as emergency reserves.
Veteran place kicker Tom Dempsey converted 36 of 38 extra points and 10 of 13 field goal attempts for 66 points while punter Rusty Jackson posted a 38.8 average on 87 attempts. Versatile Keith Moody was outstanding returning punts at a 12.6-yard clip while also averaging 20.6 on kickoff runbacks. Curtis Brown and rookie Nixon will assist Moody on the return teams this season.
Steady improvement can be expected by the youthful Bills as their young players gain game experience, but the high-powered AFC Eastern Division, unfortunately, offers little chance for advancement. The Bills appear at least a year away from playoff-contending status.
'79 Forecast: 5th Place"

-Football Forecast 1979, published by Lexington Library, Inc.

"Many NFL insiders felt that in addition to tabbing Cousineau, the Bills had the best draft of the league's 28 teams. Buffalo got nine of the first 118 players available and most of them were quality personnel.
The first pick, Cousineau, came in the trade with the San Francisco 49ers in which O.J. Simpson went to San Francisco a year ago. They also picked up a fourth-round pick in the same deal- and started the fourth round with the selection of defensive end Ken Johnson of Knoxville.
In between Cousineau and Johnson, the Bills, on their own, picked up four other players. They were Jerry Butler, a wide receiver from Clemson, Fred Smerlas, a defensive tackle from Boston College, Jim Haslett, a well-scouted college linebacker prospect from Indiana (PA), and Jon Borchardt, an offensive tackle from Montana State."

-Norm MacLean, Football Forecast 1979

"The Bills, like the Jets, are rebuilding, and like the Jets have to improve on defense. Unlike the Jets, they got the No. 1 pick of the draft- Tom Cousineau of Ohio State. If Cousineau does as Coach Chuck Knox hopes he'll do, and that is to intimidate offenses, then the Bills might just surprise a lot of teams this season.

The defense could also be improved by the addition of defensive tackle Fred Smerlas of Boston College and linebacker Jim Haslett of Indiana (Pa.) State. The Bills did give up more yards on the ground (3,228) than any team in the league last season.

They appear OK against the pass, especially since acquiring All-NFC free safety Bill Simpson in a trade with the Rams. Simpson and Cousineau should shore up two glaring weaknesses that other clubs exploited last season.

On offense, the Bills are versatile and explosive. Halfback Terry Miller gained more than 1,000 yards as a rookie last season, and Curtis Brown got almost 600 yards playing part of the season. Joe Ferguson will be back at quarterback with top receivers Bob Chandler and Frank Lewis wide, and Reuben Gant at tight end. Adding depth to that unit is Jerry Butler, a 1B selection of the Bills from Clemson, who was a first-team All-American, and is an outstanding speed receiver in the class of the Jets' Wesley Walker.

Prediction - Fifth, 8-8."

-George Usher, Football Digest (September 1979)

FULL STEAM AHEAD

"Mathematics tells us that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The Bills running back is putting that to practical use. Like any successful back, he's getting lots of help from the offensive linemen and his lead blocker."

-1979 Fleer. No. 5

THREE'S A CROWD

"The trio of Bills defenders makes a crowded situation for a Steelers running back. If a runner gets past the line of scrimmage, the linebackers and defensive backs do their best to make a lasting impression on him. Chances are they did."

-1979 Fleer No. 6

1979 BUFFALO BILLS ROSTERS

1979 Bills Preseason Veteran Roster

Head Coach - Chuck Knox

Assistant Coaches: Tom Catlin, Jack Donaldson, Steve Moore, Elijah Pitts, Ray Prochaska, Kay Stephenson, Jim Wagstaff, Willie Zapalac

60 Bill Adams (G) Holy Cross 

52 Doug Becker (LB) Notre Dame

47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri 

58 Mario Celotto (LB) USC

81 Bob Chandler (WR) USC 

29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon 

35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State

68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State

6  Tom Dempsey (K) Palomar Junior College

70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa 

85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma State 

79 Elbert Drungo (T) Tennessee State

56 Tom Ehlers (LB) Kentucky

12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas 

84 Mike Franckowiak (TE) Central Michigan 

22 Steve Freeman (CB-S) Mississippi State

Rockne Freitas (T) Oregon State

88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State

55 Tom Graham (LB) Oregon

53 Will Grant (C) Kentucky

43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland 

74 Dee Hardison (DT) North Carolina

76 Craig Hertwig (T) Georgia

80 John Holland (WR) Tennessee State

25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State 

78 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida

 4  Rusty Jackson (P) LSU

51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan 

39 Dennis D. Johnson (RB) Mississippi State

75 Dennis L. Johnson (DT) Delaware

24 Doug Jones (S) Arizona State, Cal State-Northridge 

73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas State

71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame 

82 Frank Lewis (WR) Grambling

10 David Mays (QB) Texas Southern

54 Randy McClanahan (LB) Louisiana-Lafayette

67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan 

41 Eddie McMillan (CB) Florida State

40 Terry Miller (RB) North Carolina State

46 Keith Moody (KR-CB) Syracuse 

 9  Bill Munson (QB) Utah State

59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor 

Phil Olsen (C) Utah State 

61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State 

89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State

23 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri State

26 Charles Romes (S) North Carolina Central 

57 Lucius Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech

Bill Simpson (S) Michigan State

21 Marvin Switzer (S) Kansas State

49 Larry Walton (WR) Arizona State

83 Sherman White (DE) California 

77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi 

86 Leonard Willis (WR) Ohio State 

53 Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue 

Top Draft Choices

 1 Tom Cousineau (LB) Ohio State

 1 Jerry Butler (WR) Clemson

 2 Fred Smerlas (DT) Boston College

 2 Jim Haslett (LB) Indiana (PA)

 3 Jon Borchardt (T) Montana State

-1979 Complete Handbook of Pro Football

1979 Buffalo Bills Preseason Roster by Position

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

Joe Ferguson (Arkansas)

Dan Manucci (Kansas State)

David Mays (Texas Southern)

Bill Munson (Utah State)

Running Backs

Curtis Brown (Missouri) 

Mike Collier (Morgan State) 

Roland Hooks (North Carolina State)

Dennis D. Johnson (Mississippi State)

Steve Powell (Northeast Missouri)

Terry Miller (Oklahoma State)

Receivers

Jerry Butler (W) (Clemson)

Bob Chandler (W) (USC)

Mike Franckowiak (T) (Central Michigan)

Danny Fulton (W) (Nebraska-Omaha)

Reuben Gant (T) (Oklahoma State)

John Holland (W) (Tennessee State)

Frank Lewis (W) (Grambling)

Lou Piccone (W) (West Liberty State)

Joe Shipp (T) (USC)

Larry Walton (W) (Arizona State)

Len Willis (W) (Ohio State)

Willie Zachery (W) (Central State, Ohio)

(W)-Wide Receiver  (T)-Tight End

Interior Linemen

Bill Adams (G) (Holy Cross)

Jon Borchart (T) (Montana State)

Joe DeLamielleure (G) (Michigan State)

Joe Devlin (T) (Iowa)

Elbert Drungo (T) (Tennessee State)

Will Grant (C) (Kentucky)

Craig Hertwig (T) (Georgia)

Ken Jones (T) (Arkansas State)

Reggie McKenzie (G) (Michigan)

Don Medlin (G) (North Carolina State)

Phil Olsen (C) (Utah State)

Willie Parker (C) (North Texas State)

Eric Smith (T) (Southern Mississippi)

Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue

(T)-Tackle  (G)-Guard  (C)-Center

Kickers

Tom Dempsey (PK) (Palomar JC)

Rusty Jackson (P) (LSU)

(PK)-Place Kicker  (P)-Punter

DEFENSE

Front Linemen

Phil Dokes (T-E) (Oklahoma State)

Dee Hardison (T) (North Carolina)

Scott Hutchinson (E) (Florida)

Mekeli Ieremia (T-E) (Brigham Young)

Dennis L. Johnson (T) (Delaware)

Ken Johnson (E) (Knoxville)

Mike Kadish (T) (Notre Dame)

Fred Smerlas (T) (Boston College)

Sherman White (E) (California)

Ben Williams (E) (Mississippi)

(E)-End  (T)-Tackle

Linebackers

Doug Becker (O) (Notre Dame)

Mario Celotto (O) (USC)

Greg Collins (O) (Notre Dame)

Tom Cousineau (O) (Ohio State)

Tom Ehlers (O) (Kentucky)

Tom Graham (M) (Oregon)

Jim Haslett (O) (Indiana, Pa.)

Dan Jilek (O) (Michigan)

Randy McClanahan (M) (Southwest Louisiana)

Shane Nelson (O) (Baylor)

Lucius Sanford (O) (Georgia)

(O)-Outside Linebacker  (M)-Middle Linebacker

Defensive Backs

Mario Clark (CB) (Oregon)

Steve Freeman (S) (Mississippi State)

Tony Greene (S) (Maryland)

Doug Jones (S) (San Fernando Valley State)

Rod Kush (S) (Nebraska-Omaha)

Eddie McMillan (CB) (Florida State)

Keith Moody (CB) (Syracuse)

Jeff Nixon (S) (Richmond)

Charles Romes (CB) (North Carolina Central)

Bill Simpson (S) (Michigan State)

Marvin Switzer (S) (Kansas State)

(CB)-Cornerback (S)-Safety

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979, published by Pocket Books, New York

1979 Buffalo Bills Veteran Roster

Coach: Chuck Knox

60 Bill Adams (G) Holy Cross 

52 Doug Becker (LB) Notre Dame

47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri 

58 Mario Celotto (LB) USC

81 Bob Chandler (WR) USC 

29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon 

35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State

68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State

6  Tom Dempsey (K) Palomar Junior College

70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa 

85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma State 

79 Elbert Drungo (T) Tennessee State

56 Tom Ehlers (LB) Kentucky

12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas 

84 Mike Franckowiak (TE) Central Michigan 

22 Steve Freeman (CB-S) Mississippi State

Rockne Freitas (T) Oregon State

88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State

55 Tom Graham (LB) Oregon

53 Will Grant (C) Kentucky

43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland 

74 Dee Hardison (DT) North Carolina

76 Craig Hertwig (T) Georgia

80 John Holland (WR) Tennessee State

25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State 

78 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida

 4  Rusty Jackson (P) LSU

51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan 

39 Dennis D. Johnson (RB) Mississippi State

75 Dennis L. Johnson (DT) Delaware

24 Doug Jones (S) Arizona State, Cal State-Northridge 

73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas State

71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame 

82 Frank Lewis (WR) Grambling

10 David Mays (QB) Texas Southern

54 Randy McClanahan (LB) Louisiana-Lafayette

67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan 

41 Eddie McMillan (CB) Florida State

40 Terry Miller (RB) North Carolina State

46 Keith Moody (KR-CB) Syracuse 

 9  Bill Munson (QB) Utah State

59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor 

Phil Olsen (C) Utah State 

61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State 

89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State

23 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri State

26 Charles Romes (S) North Carolina Central 

57 Lucius Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech

Bill Simpson (S) Michigan State

21 Marvin Switzer (S) Kansas State

49 Larry Walton (WR) Arizona State

83 Sherman White (DE) California 

77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi 

86 Leonard Willis (WR) Ohio State 

53 Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue 

-Football Digest, September 1979

1979 Buffalo Bills Roster

Coach: Chuck Knox

73 Jon Borchardt (T) Montana State

47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri 

80 Jerry Butler (WR) Clemson 

29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon 

35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State

68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State

6  Tom Dempsey (K) Palomar Junior College

70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa 

12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas  

22 Steve Freeman (S) Mississippi State

84 Dan Fulton (WR) Nebraska-Omaha

62 Ed Fulton (G) Maryland

88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State

53 Will Grant (C) Kentucky

43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland 

74 Dee Hardison (DE) North Carolina

55 Jim Haslett (LB) Indiana, Pa.

54 Tom Higgins (LB) North Carolina State

25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State 

90 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida

 4  Rusty Jackson (P) LSU

51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan 

39 Dennis D. Johnson (FB) Mississippi State 

73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas State

71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame 

64 Chris Keating (LB) Maine

82 Frank Lewis (WR) Grambling

11 Dan Manucci (QB) Kansas State

67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan 

40 Terry Miller (RB) North Carolina State

46 Keith Moody (CB) Syracuse 

 9  Bill Munson (QB) Utah State

59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor  

38 Jeff Nixon (S) Richmond

61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State 

89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State

23 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri State

58 Isiah Robertson (LB) Southern

26 Charles Romes (S) North Carolina Central 

57 Lucius Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech

87 Joe Shipp (TE) USC

76 Fred Smerlas (NT) Boston College

83 Sherman White (DE) California 

77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi 

86 Leonard Willis (WR) Ohio State  

-Football Digest, December 1979

1979 BUFFALO BILLS DEPTH CHARTS

1979 Buffalo Bills Preseason Depth Chart

OFFENSE

QB Joe Ferguson (Arkansas), Bill Munson (Utah State), David Mays (Texas Southern), Dan Manucci (Kansas State)*

RB Terry Miller (Oklahoma State), Roland Hooks (North Carolina State), Mike Collier (Morgan State), Steve Powell (Northeast Missouri State) 

RB Curtis Brown (Missouri), Dennis D. Johnson (Mississippi State) 

WR Frank Lewis (Grambling), Lou Piccone (West Liberty State), John Holland (Tennessee State), Len Willis (Ohio State)

T Ken Jones (Arkansas State, Craig Hertwig (Georgia), Elbert Drungo (Tennessee State), Jon Borchardt (Montana State)*

G Reggie McKenzie (Michigan), Bill Adams (Holy Cross), Don Medlin (North Carolina State)

C Willie Parker (North Texas State), Will Grant (Kentucky), Connie Zelencik (Purdue), Phil Olsen (Utah State)

G Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State), Bill Adams (Holy Cross)

T Joe Devlin (Iowa), Eric Smith (Southern Mississippi)

TE Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State), Mike Franckowiak (Central Michigan), Joe Shipp (USC)

WR Bob Chandler (USC), Larry Walton (Arizona State), Willie Zachery (Central State-Ohio), Jerry Butler (Clemson)*

DEFENSE

E Ben Williams (Mississippi), Scott Hutchinson (Florida), Ken Johnson (Knoxville)*

T Mike Kadish (Notre Dame), Phil Dokes (Oklahoma State)                 

T Dee Hardison (North Carolina), Mekeli Ieremia (Brigham Young), Dennis L. Johnson (Delaware), Fred Smerlas (Boston College)*

E Sherman White (California), Scott Hutchinson (Florida)

LB Shane Nelson (Baylor), Doug Becker (Notre Dame), Tom Ehlers (Kentucky), Tom Cousineau (Ohio State)* 

MLB Tom Graham (Oregon), Randy McClanahan (Louisiana-Lafayette)

LB Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech), Dan Jilek (Michigan), Mario Celotto (USC), Jim Haslett (Indiana-Pennsylvania)

CB Mario Clark (Oregon), Keith Moody (Syracuse)

S Doug Jones (San Fernando Valley), Steve Freeman (Mississippi State), Bill Simpson (Michigan State), Rod Kush (Nebraska-Omaha)*

S Tony Greene (Maryland), Marvin Switzer (Kansas State), Jeff Nixon (Richmond)*

CB Charles Romes (North Carolina Central), Eddie McMillan (Florida State) 

KICKERS

K Tom Dempsey (Palomar JC)

P Rusty Jackson (LSU)

* rookie

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979, published by Pocket Books, New York

OFFENSE

QB Joe Ferguson (Arkansas) 12, Bill Munson (Utah State) 9, Dan Manucci (Kansas State)*

RB Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) 40, Roland Hooks (North Carolina State) 25, Mike Collier (Morgan State) 35

FB Curtis Brown (Missouri) 47, Dennis D. Johnson (Mississippi State) 39                         

WR Jerry Butler (Clemson)*, Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

T Ken Jones (Arkansas State) 72, Jon Borchardt (Montana State)*

G Reggie McKenzie (Michigan) 67, Bill Adams (Holy Cross) 60

C Willie Parker (North Texas State) 61, Will Grant (Kentucky) 53

G Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State) 68

T Joe Devlin (Iowa) 70

TE Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State) 88, Joe Shipp (USC) 87

WR Bob Chandler (USC) 81, Frank Lewis (Grambling) 82, Danny Fulton (Nebraska-Omaha)*

DEFENSE

DE Ben Williams (Mississippi) 77, Ken Johnson (Knoxville)*

DT Mike Kadish (Notre Dame) 71, Dee Hardison (North Carolina) 74, Dennis L. Johnson (Delaware) 75, Fred Smerlas (Boston College)*

DE Sherman White (California) 83, Scott Hutchinson (Florida)*

OLB  Isiah Robertson (Southern) 58, Chris Keating (Maine)* 

ILB Jim Haslett (Indiana-Pennsylvania)*, Tom Cousineau (Ohio State)*

ILB Shane Nelson (Baylor) 59, Tom Higgins (North Carolina State)*

OLB Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech) 57, Dan Jilek (Michigan) 51

CB Mario Clark (Oregon) 29, Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46

SS Steve Freeman (Mississippi State) 22, Doug Jones (San Fernando Valley) 24

FS Tony Greene (Maryland) 43, Jeff Nixon (Richmond)*

CB Charles Romes (North Carolina Central) 26, Eddie McMillan (Florida State) 41

KICKERS

K Tom Dempsey (Palomar JC) 6

P Rusty Jackson (LSU) 4

KR Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46, Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

PR Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46, Jeff Nixon (Richmond)*

* rookie

1979 BUFFALO BILLS TOPPS CARDS

Bob Chandler

Mario Clark (1978 interceptions leader: 5)

Joe DeLamielleure 

Joe Ferguson

Reuben Gant

Tony Greene

Roland Hooks

Rusty Jackson

Dennis D. Johnson

Dennis L. Johnson

Mike Kadish

Merv Krakau

Reggie McKenzie

Terry Miller (1978 rushing leader, 1,060 yards)

Willie Parker

Lou Piccone

1979 Buffalo Bills Profile Summary

Head Coach: Chuck Knox

QB Joe Ferguson (Arkansas) 12

RB  Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) 40

RB  Roland Hooks (North Carolina State) 25

FB Curtis Brown (Missouri) 47

FB  Dennis D. Johnson (Mississippi State) 39

WR Frank Lewis (Grambling) 82

WR Bob Chandler (USC) 81

WR Jerry Butler (Clemson) 80

WR Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

TE Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State) 88

C    Willie Parker (North Texas State) 61

C    Phil Olsen (Utah State) 73

G    Reggie McKenzie (Michigan) 67

G    Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State) 68

T    Joe Devlin (Iowa) 70

T    Ken Jones (Arkansas State) 72

T    Rockne Freitas (Oregon State) 78

DT Mike Kadish (Notre Dame) 71 

DT Fred Smerlas (Boston College) 76

DT Dennis L. Johnson (Delaware) 75

DT Phil Olsen (Utah State) 73

DE Sherman White (California) 83

DE Ben Williams (Mississippi) 77

OLB Isiah Robertson (Southern) 58

ILB Merv Krakau (Iowa State) 52

ILB Tom Cousineau (Ohio State) 50

ILB Jim Haslett (Indiana (Pa.) 55

OLB Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech) 57

CB Mario Clark (Oregon) 29

CB Charles Romes (North Carolina Central) 26

CB Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46

SS Steve Freeman (Mississippi State) 22

FS Tony Greene (Maryland) 43

FS Bill Simpson (Michigan State) 45

K Tom Dempsey (Palomar JC) 6

K Nick Mike-Mayer (Temple) 5

P Rusty Jackson (LSU) 4

KR Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

PR Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46

1978 Profile: Doug Jones

Strong Safety
No. 24
San Fernando Valley
This aggressive safety started all 14 games in both 1976 and '77 after missing all of '75 with a knee injury. Last season Doug grabbed two interceptions for 30 yards, including a touchdown, and returned a recovered fumble 20 yards.
A two-year starter at both cornerback and safety in college, Doug was also a championship hurdler.

1978 Profile: Tom Ruud

Linebacker
No. 54
Nebraska
The Bills' top draft choice in 1975, Tom saw action all 14 games in both '75 and '76.
A unanimous All-Big Eight selection in 1974, with AP All-American honorable mention, Tom led Nebraska with 104 tackles while recovering three fumbles and intercepting two passes, finishing his college career with 209 tackles. All-Academic Big eight in both 1973 and '74, he played in the Senior Bowl.

1978 Profile: Dan Jilek

Linebacker
No. 51
Michigan
Dan plays aggressively and hits hard. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1976. That year he was Buffalo's second-leading tackler and also had two pass interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack.
A two-time All-Big Ten selection who earned All-American honorable mention, Dan played in both the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl.

1978 Profile: Terry Miller

Running Back

1st Round

Oklahoma State

"Making this year special is a fleet from back from a Big Eight school, Terry Miller, 6-0, 196, from Oklahoma State. Miller had 1,680 yards, 14 touchdowns and a 5.4 average. He might have won the Heisman Trophy had the Cowboys had a better season. He was the preseason favorite."

-Larry Bortstein, from Top Prospects for the '78 Draft, May-June 1978 Football Digest

"Blazing speed with 4.45 in the 40. Leading rusher in Big Eight history and fourth on all-time NCAA list with 4,754 career yards. Third in the nation last year with 1,680 yards, a Big Eight record. In 1977 gained 100 yards in all 11 games and was Heisman runner-up but many experts consider him a better prospect than Earl Campbell because of his tremendous speed. With deceptive power, Miller runs a lot like Walter Payton but is not as flashy. Had 27 games in his career with more than 100 yards, including 228 yards on 36 carries against Missouri and 221 on 37 carries against Kansas State.

A consensus All-America two straight years, first running back selected by the Bills in the opening round since O.J."

-Football Digest (September 1978)

Terry was a consensus All-American for two consecutive years and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1977. He rushed for 4,754 yards and 49 touchdowns in four years, becoming the first back in Big  Eight history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons. Terry is the all-time leading rusher in conference history and holds all Oklahoma State rushing and scoring records. In 1976, he was the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year.

TERRY MILLER: BUFFALO'S NEXT O.J.?

The Rookie Back From Oklahoma State Has The Same Self-Confidence And Flair As Simpson. Now He Wants To Prove He Has The Talent, Too

"When Buffalo traded O.J. Simpson to San Francisco last March, the Bills parted with more than a great football player. They lost a movie and rent-a-car star who could turn on charisma as easily as speed.

Losing the Juice was bound to mean losing publicity- and fans. There will never be another O.J. publicity director Budd Thalman mourned.

A few weeks later, Thalman drove to the Buffalo airport to meet Terry Miller, the Bills' top draft choice out of Oklahoma State, located in the metropolis of Stillwater. Though he'd heard Miller was no country bumpkin, Thalman was surprised.

'We had only talked a couple of minutes and I covered my eyes and shook my head,' Thalman says. 'It was incredible. The personality, the mannerisms. I thought, 'No, it can't be. I've heard all this before.' '

Miller walked something like O.J. He talked something like O.J. Now, Thalman thought if he can only RUN like O.J.

In the airport corridor, photographers set up a picture of Miller hurdling suitcases like his predecessor does in Hertz commercials. The publicity campaign had begun. Buffalo, the photo announced, Meet 'T.M.' the second coming of O.J.

After losing 23 of 28 games the last two seasons, then Simpson, the Bills are in desperate need of a gate attraction, someone to fill seats while new coach Chuck Knox, late of the Rams, rebuilds. To hear Bills' coaches tell it, Buffalo Bill himself couldn't outdraw Miller.

Knox and his coaches call Miller the best player in the college draft even though he was the fifth picked and the second running back, behind Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell, the Franco Harris-style power runner who went No. 1 to Houston. The Bills say even Super Bowl champ Dallas rated Miller, who runs with power and SPEED, ahead of Campbell.

For scouting director Norm Pollom (another Ram refugee) the tipoff came from Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer, whose team tried unsuccessfully to corral Miller the last four years. Says Pollom: 'Switzer said Miller was a better college player than Tony Dorsett (the '76 Heisman winner now with Dallas) and that he'd be a better pro. He said Miller was the best he'd ever seen.'

Playing for average teams in a not-so-average conference, Miller is the Big Eight's all-time leading rusher and fourth on the NCAA's career list, behind Dorsett, Archie Griffin and Ed Marinaro. At OSU they called him 'Sweet T' or 'T.M.'

At 5-10, 196 pounds  he's built more like Chicago's Walter Payton than Simpson, although he doesn't have Payton's or Simpson's upper-body strength. But Miller is uncommonly quick (he has run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash), fast (9.5 in the 100), shifty (he can spin like an Oklahoma twister) and tough (he seldom missed a college game despite six broken noses and cracked fingers and bruised ribs).

But just as important to the Bills' management is how he handles himself off the field. Veteran Buffalo writers say he's more poised and articulate than Simpson was at his rookie training camp.

No wonder. The 22-year-old is already the Yukon, Okla., National Bank vice-president, a career he's pursued since the summer after his freshman year. What's more, he's half-owner of a small construction company, and he has a pilot's license. Miller has been saying he'll be a millionaire before he's 30- with or without his estimated $1.2 million, five-year Bills deal.

Though Miller has already been asked a few thousand times how it feels to follow O.J., he calmly told an interviewer: 'I am not O.J. Simpson or Walter Payton or Tony Dorsett, I am Terry Miller, and that'll be enough.'

T.M. had just finished signing autographs at the same spot outside the locker room O.J. used to, and now he was sitting in front of the locker Simpson vacated.

'Really, I don't feel that much pressure,' Miller said, enunciating as if he were on camera. 'Nobody is expecting more of me than I'm expecting of myself.

'Hey, I have the potential to be one of the best in the league. I'm not saying that in a cocky way, I'm just confident. If things go well, you'll hear about it. If I play as relaxed as I did by junior year (1,714 yards, 23 touchdowns and the most Heisman votes of any undergraduate including Campbell), you'll read about it.'

He threw his head back, laughed and said he's used to being compared to O.J.

'My mother used to say, 'How you doing, Juice?' She'd watch his commercials and say our personalities were so similar that you couldn't tell us apart if it weren't for our faces.'

Like Simpson, Miller can turn his personality on and off like a neon sign. Eyes light up, teeth gleem- and people like him. Though his voice isn't as disc jockey-resonant as Simpson's, Miller did color commentary on OSU basketball broadcasts. Though he isn't as quite as photogenic- Miller's face is rounder, his features less sharp- he says he'll be doing commercials and, maybe, movies.

But despite Miller's financial security, self-confidence and flair, he doesn't seem to inspire jealousy. Though Simpson was well-liked, his demands to be traded, his absence from training camp and his larger-than-life image created dissension among the Bills the last couple of seasons.

Miller doesn't move with an arrogance that says, 'Look but don't touch.' He says one veteran player told him after a recent practice, 'It's good to see that you don't think you're too good to go through all the drills.'

As a youth in Colorado Springs, the son of an Air Force officer and a beauty shop owner, he ran lemonade stands and sold auto parts to friends.

After gaining more than 2,000 yards his senior year in high school, he signed with OSU (there had just been a coaching change at Colorado). Soon after, he went to see an Oklahoma State supporter who was president of a bank.

'So you want to work at a bank,' the man asked.

'Sir, I want to OWN one,' Miller replied.

Since then, Miller has handled a million-dollar loan, and he refused one of his OSU teammates a $4,000 dollar loan ('He simply didn't qualify').

Though he's represented by Mark McCormack's International Managment and has two lawyers and several advisors, Miller made many of the decisions in his contract negotiations.

He said he refused deferred payments ('I want my money now, at '78 value') and got what he wanted by signing for five years instead of three. 'I don't want to be getting $10,000 in deferred money for the next ten years,' he said. 'I plan to use that much in jet fuel.' He swooped into Buffalo for the signing announcement in a private Lear jet.

He said he put his bonus money into tax-free municipals and went into a complicated explanation of the bonds' benefits. 'This is my game,' he says referring to business.

His contract seems to have made up for losing the Heisman. 'I would have won had I played on a better teams (OSU was 4-7; Campbell's team was undefeated through the regular season). I'm still getting the press. People know who I am.'

Indeed, although he's playing in Buffalo, a large Stillwater, Miller has been attracting heavy media attention.

Miller says he's talked casually with O.J. a couple of times, but he doesn't seem to idolize him. In fact, he says he hasn't watched much pro football, preferring to spend his free time flying or pursuing his business interests.

Miller doesn't seem concerned about getting hurt or bombing as a pro. 'If I don't make it,' he said grinning, 'it won't be the end of the world.' "

-Skip Bayless, The Los Angeles Times (Football Digest, November 1978)

1978 Profile: Phil Dokes

Defensive Tackle
No. 85
Oklahoma State
Buffalo's 1st round pick in 1977, Phil was a two-time All-Big Eight defensive lineman and registered 11 quarterback sacks in 1975. He was named Outstanding Defensive Player in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl and made the Big Eight Academic Team in 1975.
Phil was once named High School Athlete of the Year in Arkansas.

1978 Profiles: Tom Dempsey and Carson Long

TOM DEMPSEY

Place Kicker

No 6

Palomar JC

"If you have a son with a physical handicap and he's having trouble adjusting to it, tell him about Tom Dempsey. Tom was born without a right hand and only half of his right foot, but with encouragement from a sports-minded father and plenty and courage and confidence on his own part, he has become one of the better place-kickers in pro football.

Fitted with a special shoe he designed himself, Tom made good on 21 of 41 field goal attempts last year, including a 55-yarder against the Rams that was just one yard short of the professional record, and he converted 33 of 35 PAT's. His total score of 99 points ranked him fifth in the NFL last season.

After graduating from Palomar Junior College in California, Tom spent some time in minor league ball and on the Chargers' taxi squad."

-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970

"Tom was signed by the Saints as a free agent in August 1969 and blossomed into a star. His point total of 99 was fifth best in the NFL and set a New Orleans club mark. Tom also set club marks with 22 field goals, 33 PAT's and a 55-yard field goal.

Tom played for Lowell in the Atlantic Coast Football League in 1967. He hit on four field goals, the longest being a 57-yarder.

At one time, Tom was a professional wrestler."

-1970 Topps No. 140

"Even if 270-pound Tom Dempsey hadn't rewritten the record books with a 63-yard field goal against Detroit, he'd still belong in the courage hall of fame. Here's a man born with half a right foot- he uses a special kicking shoe- and the stub of a right hand. 'I've always felt I could do anything anybody else did,' is his philosophy, and it has carried him from being a defensive end in high school and college, to a kicker in a semi-pro league and finally to the longest field goal in NFL history.

Though he did come through in the clutch, Dempsey ranked only 14th among NFC scorers. He kicked 16 of 17 extra points and 18 of 34 field goals for a total of 70 points last season."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Booted his way into the record book- and into the hearts of Saints fans- when he kicked a 63-yard field goal, the longest in the history of the NFL, to beat the Lions, 19-17, on November 8.

Dempsey was born with half a right foot and a stub of a right hand. He wears a special shoe approved by the NFL. 'I don't feel hadicapped,' he says. 'I've always been able to do anything anyone else can do. I've felt that way since I was eight or nine.' His parents encouraged him to play football, and with his size he was a defensive end in high school.

He played semi-pro ball and spent 1968 on the Chargers' taxi squad. He signed as a free agent in 1969.

Dempsey kicked four of seven field goals from the 40 to the 49 last season and three of nine from 50 or more yards. But he was erratic kicking from the 30 to the 39- only one out of five. He missed three of 13 from inside the 30.

Dempsey is a Pro Bowl player."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"On November 9, 1970, Tom kicked a 63-yard field goal to help the Saints defeat the Lions 19-17 in the last two seconds. It was the longest field goal in NFL history, breaking the mark of 56  yards held by Bert Rechichar, against the Bears on September 27, 1953. 

The field goal, which was Tom's fourth of the game, broke a barrier. The 60-plus-yard field goal attempt had been routine on practice fields and although it will never become routine in games, it is now likely to be tried more often from time to time when game situations warrant it.

Tom won the Saints' kicking job in the 1969 pre-season game against the Broncos when he booted 3-pointers from the 54, 49 and 12-yard lines. He kicked four field goals each in wins over the Giants and Eagles in 1969.

Tom can throw the shot put 50 yards."

-1971 Topps No. 5

"Dempsey was the most accurate field kicker in the league last season with 12 successful field goal kicks in 17 attempts (.706). He kicked field goals of 41, 42, 45, 51, 52 and 50 yards and missed only one inside the 30.

The presence of Dempsey,' says Eagles coach Ed Khayat, 'means that our offense is a threat to score any time we get near the 50-yard line. And the fact that he was the most accurate kicker in football last year is most unusual because of all the long attempts that we call upon him to make.'

He was born with only half of a right foot and the stub of a right hand. He wears a special shoe approved by the NFL and says he does not feel handicapped in any way.

Dempsey was dropped by the Saints in the final pre-season cut last season. In the previous season he kicked a record-breaking 63-yard field goal in the last few seconds for a 19-17 victory by the Saints over the Lions. He did not get along with Saint coach J.D. Roberts, one argument being over Dempsey's blimpy weight. He was replaced in New Orleans by Skip Butler. 'The kid he sent in (Butler) kicked off three times out of bounds and made a 12-yard field goal and that's what it took to replace me,' says Dempsey.

He reports a great situation with Khayat. 'He leaves me alone and lets me practice the way I want.' "

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1972 Edition)

"Activated by the Eagles, 11-21-71, Tom kicked three field goals in a 30-27 win against the Cardinals that day. He set a new Eagles' record with a 52-yarder for one of three field goals in a 23-20 win over the Lions on December 4. Tom kicked four field goals in a 19-7 win over the Cardinals on December 12, one going 54 yards to break the club record he established the previous week!

Tom spent the 1968 season on the Chargers' taxi squad."

-1972 Topps No. 175

"After leading the NFC in accuracy in 1971, he dropped to ninth in 1972, hitting only 57% of his boots. Dempsey was 6-for-6 inside the 20; 3-of-6 inside the 30; 7-of-10 inside the 40; 2-of-9 inside the 50 and 2-of-4 beyond the 50. His longest kick was 52 yards.

Tom has problems keeping down his weight. He was born with only half of a right foot and a stub of a right hand. He wears a $150 shoe on his right foot.

'If I have a bad day, I don't read the papers.' "

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1973 Edition)

"Signed by the Eagles for the final five games of 1971, Tom led the league with a .706 field goal percentage. A participant in the 1970 Pro Bowl, he was formerly a member of the Saints."

-1973 Topps No. 59

"One of the greatest long range kickers in pro football history, Tom kicked the longest field goal of all time with a 63-yarder in 1970.

Tom is an account executive in the off-season."

-1974 Topps No. 270

"Tom kicked the longest field goal in NFL history with a 63-yarder for the Saints against the Lions on November 8, 1970. He booted the longest field goal in Eagles' history with a 54-yarder in 1971."

-1975 Topps No. 163

DEMPSEY'S 63-YARDER LONGEST IN HISTORY

November 8, 1970

"Tom kicked a clutch field goal in the closing seconds to give the Saints a come-from-behind victory over the Lions today. The boot was a booming 63-yarder which set a pro standard for the longest kick in history."

-Football Extra, 1975 Topps No. 353

"The Rams' leading scorer in 1975, Tom was third best among NFC kickers."

-1976 Topps No. 519

CARSON LONG

Place Kicker
No. 5
Pittsburgh
Carson was outstanding in his rookie year. He was successful on seven of 11 field goal attempts, including 5-for-8 from at least 30 yards and 3-for-6 from at least 40 yards. Carson also converted 13 of 14 PATs.